A/N: Here's the next chapter. So who will win? Will Rudy or Ash get Misty? Okay, from my poll its Ash and Misty five. People who didn't vote three. Rudy and Misty none. Hey. I know what kind of romance will be in this story, but I was just curious how many people liked Rudy and Misty romance. That's all. I already have most of this story planned out there's just some parts that I add in when it comes to me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. It belongs to people way richer than me.

Reviewers' Questions:

Labannya::: Err… sweat drops. Yeah, guess Brock is a traitor. Sorry but there isn't much Haruka and Brock interaction in this chapter, but they will have their time to shine in the later chapters. Well… that was the only place that I could add Delia in for now. She'll pay more rolls later though. Uh… well the Pokémon and humans have harmony… err I know… but I can't tell you yet. Err… guess that's one point for Ash and Misty. :Runs from the mallet: Thanks for reviewing.

SamuraiChris::: Oh thanks for reviewing. I love getting new people's reviews, and I hope you review more in the future. :Blushes: Thanks of the comment. Another point for pokeshipping. You don't like Rudy either well either do I. I never liked him in an anime, so that's why I like writing about him. I can torment him in my fics. :Evil laughter: You want Ash back too. Most people do. Yeah, I know Pokémon can't go on without Ash, that's why I actually added a clip of Ash in this chapter. Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you review more.

Aisha ClanClan::: Where is Ash you ask? Err… I can tell you where he's not. He's not in Thunderbolt. I can tell you where his heart and love is. Within Misty and all his friends. But where his body and spirit are, that I can't tell you… yet. Err… who you want together? Misty with Ash or Misty with Rudy? … Uh doesn't matter right now. Thanks for reviewing.

Overlord::: Another point for Misty and Ash. God does no one like Rudy or something? Maybe I should have done Misty and Gary go to the dinner together. So you want Ash back too… Yeah you'll see… soon. Thanks for reviewing.

Joy-girl::: Yeah, well Misty can't actually leave. She's the founder of Thunderbolt. She has this reputation thing meaning she has to stay. Err… as for Ash seeing it well… uh … okay I can't say anymore on that. Let me guess another point for Ash and Misty. Thanks for your review.

Nightswift::: Yeah, Misty went with the idiot… for now. Yeah… well guess it does suck. As for Why do you hate Christmas, Misty? Let's say I hit a huge roadblock with that story. I only wrote this story to try to get rid of my writer's block for that story. It's either that Christmas time is over, and I can't write Christmas stories in February or something. I will continue that story as soon as my writer's block goes away. For now I'll keep posting this story. Uh thanks… here's a hint remember the necklace. Thanks for your review.

Me::: Okay another point for Ash and Misty. Rudy is anything but pretty. HE'S UGLY in my opinion. No… I haven't crack… yet. I crack at the end of this chapter… for now. Thanks for reviewing.

Enhanced::: Yeah, Rudy is an idiot and a big fat jerk. Err… no… he's not going to eaten… Sorry to disappoint you. Hey… I wish he could be eaten… but I need him … for now. Thanks for liking the story and thanks for your review.

(A/N: Okay here's a secret. I don't actually read all my reviews before I finish writing a chapter. Right now after you read this chapter… uh… just read it and then I'll talk.)

Chapter 10

Misty was left in the center of the room. She so wanted to run out the room right this moment and cry. The one person who she thought of as a mother thought she really had interests in Rudy. But it was nothing like that, and Misty knew. She forced herself to believe that. She only came to the dinner with Rudy because she had promised him.

A light touch and a peck on the cheeks caused Misty to turn cold immediately. She immediately raised her hand and prepared to the punch the person who did it. Nobody could kiss her that way. "Hey beautiful, what's wrong?" asked a man.

Misty immediately cringed. It was only Rudy. " RUDY!!" shouted Misty. Her voice caused stares around them. "It's nothing," whispered Misty. She lightly sweat dropped. This wasn't going well. Misty sighed as she heard the sound of the bell. Once again like the many dinners before she was always save by it.

"Shall we?" asked Rudy. He extended out his arm, and Misty plainly nodded. Misty and Rudy both being an important member was to enter the dinner first. She handed her jacket over to an usher before taking her spot at the top of the dining table. Everyone and anyone who had a commanding job at Thunderbolt was to sit at the high table. The dining area was huge. Every town and city that had to host a special event had to have a huge dining area. Every town had a different landscape that was built within the room.

Pallet's landscape was the wildness. So within the room, the walls were painted with hills, plains, mountains, forest, deserts, rivers, oceans, and every different type of land form in the world. The moment Misty sat down at her place her blood ran cold. Every time she walked into the dinning area her blood ran cold. She could hear the flowing water behind her…

"Misty, we got a surprise for you," said Haruka in her hyper sing song voice.

"What?" asked Misty. She was busy hanging up the curtains since she had been kicked out the dining room.

"Come here, and you'll see," said Haruka grinning.

Misty shrugged her shoulders. It wasn't like the surprise could be that bad. Haruka grinned as Misty climbed down the ladder. "Close your eyes," said Haruka. Misty nodded and flapped them shut. Haruka knew this trick well. Misty could pretend that she had closed her eyes shut and everyone would believe it, but really she could see through them. "Misty," whined Haruka. "I said no peeking."

"But I'm not," said Misty. Haruka rolled her eyes as she walked behind her and placed her hand over her eyes. "Now march."

The two girls walked into the dining room where Brock and Tracey were waiting. Haruka led Misty right in front of the surprise. Haruka took her hands off. "Now open." Brock and Tracey pulled the strings ti revealed the surprise.

"SURPRISE!!" shouted the three together. Misty stood dumb struck. Millions of memories came flooding back as she looked at the scene before her. Brock, Tracey, and Haruka grinned as they waited for Misty's answer. But she couldn't, how could she answer if she liked it or not?

Brock, Tracey, and Haruka thought it would make her happy to place a makeshift waterfall in the room. But all it did was bring back memories, good memories, memories that haunt her everyday. She never went to the real waterfall outside of Pallet cause she couldn't bear it. Now right in front of her was the waterfall, the bike, the fishing pole, and paper the Spearows. All was missing in that realistic scene that she could touch was a young headstrong twelve-year-old girl that had just ran away from home, a sweet, caring, brave, stubborn ten-year-old boy with a dream bigger than the world itself and a small wounded Pikachu.

Misty couldn't take it anymore and fell heavily to her knees and cried. She knew that her actions would hurt her friends dearly, but it was the only thing she could do. Brock immediately walked over. Misty could see his face between her tears. "Misty… I'm sorry," muttered Brock. She didn't know what to say. There was nothing that she could think of. She knew that Brock must really feel bad. She had hurt him deeply, but she couldn't say sorry. Her voice didn't seem to want to work.

"Misty, we didn't know. If you want, we can take it down," muttered Brock. Misty shook her head as she raised her hand. They were shaking uncontrollably as she touched Brock's shoulder.

"No… don't. It's lovely. It's… so real. I want it here. It'll make the room look nice," said Misty.

"You sure?" asked Haruka. Her voice was full of concern.

"Yeah, besides I don't want all your hard work to go to waste. It… it makes the room look nice," said Misty.

Still, after four long years that waterfall has still remained in the dining room. Even time she heard or saw it, she felt like crying. Every time she heard the water running down the waterfall, she heard his voice. His voice of concern asking what to do for his Pikachu, borrowing her bike, and promising her that he would return it.

He never did buy her a new bike, and secretly Misty wished he never would.

"Misty," said a voice breaking her from her thoughts.

"Huh?" asked Misty. She looked up and saw Brock calling her.

"It's your turn to say the blessing," muttered Brock.

"Oh right," muttered Misty. She clasped her hand within Haruka and Rudy. Rudy normally never sat next to Misty in the dinners, but this time since they came as dates. Rudy sat up front with the generals. Haruka nodded as Misty sighed before beginning. "Dear lord, please bless the food upon our tables. Bless our friends, families, rivals, acquaintances, and help us win back our friends of long before, the Pokémon. We wish again that the war would end without death. Please lord of the heavens bless us on this Thanksgiving day. Give courage to us as the new come into our hearts. Give us the courage to live on once more. Amen."

"Amen." The word left everyone's lips as they looked up. Misty smiled as Haruka passed her a bottle. Everyone within the room looked at Misty except Jessie and James. This was their first Thanksgiving they had every spent, and they weren't acquainted with the customs. Misty had told them yesterday that it wasn't a big thing.

She grinned as she pulled open the bottle. Just like every year the Champaign that was kept from the past Thanksgiving was bust open.

"May the feast began," shouted Misty.

*********

Hours later the dinning room was cleared. The dancing in the grand ballroom had begun. Misty declined the dances that Rudy asked for. She never liked to admit it, but she couldn't dance. The first and one of her last dances she had danced was when she was twelve. It was the end of the summer dance at Maiden's Peak. She remembered that dance and that day so well…

A light giggled ran through the twelve-year-old girl's mouth. They had just discovered the truth about the ghost of maiden's peak. Sunrise turned to be the victory, but her ten-year-old companion sure didn't think so. "Come Misty, you know that I could have beaten that Ghastly," said Ash.

Misty rolled her eyes. "Whatever Ash."

"Hey, I could have," argued Ash.

"Then why didn't you Mr. Hot Shot?" asked Misty.

"Be… because the sun beat me. Yeah, that's it," said Ash.

Once again Misty rolled her eyes. Before she could contradict her friend's words, the small rodent upon the boy's shoulder cried.

"Pikapi, Pikachupi, pi ka pika chu." Ash looked down at the Pokémon and lightly rubbed its head.

"What is it buddy?" asked Ash.

"Pika." The Pokémon said again. Ash looked the direction that Pikachu was pointing and immediately cringed.

"They're just kimonos, Pikachu," said Ash simply.

"They're beautiful," grasped Misty. She immediately grabbed hold of Ash's arm and dragged him into the shop. The two were spending the day alone. Brock was back at the Pokémon center having one of his usual after romance meltdowns. Ash and Misty had decided to leave the poor guy alone. It wasn't every day that you find out your dream girl is over hundred and is a Ghastly.

"Misty," cringed Ash again. "Why are we in here?"

"Because I want to see them," said Misty.

"Why?" whined Ash.

"Because I said so," snapped Misty. She dragged Ash over to the girl's section. There a lovely saleslady awaited them.

"May I help you?" asked the woman.

"No th…"

"ASH!" shouted Misty angrily. She immediately clapped her hand around Ash's mouth.

"Don't mind him. Yeah, we want to see the kimonos," said Misty happily. Ash shrugged to unclasp Misty's hand as he struggled to shake his head.

"How cute! Is this your boyfriend?" asked the lady. Misty immediately shook her head while deep down she wished Ash was her boyfriend.

"No, he's just a friend."

The lady eyed the two funnily as she led them into the racks and racks of kimonos.

Hours later Ash managed to escape the two girls. Misty couldn't find a descent kimono and ended up asking for a custom made one. Ash was her… her dummy. Since Ash was about Misty's size, he ended up being the one to try one the different cloth to see if she liked them. How was he suppose to know there were soo many different types of cloth out there? Misty was the dressing room now leaving Ash to find some way to spend the next few hours.

"Good going, Pikachu," muttered Ash as he popped himself on a bench.

"Pika?"

"It's your fault we're here. You know?" said Ash.

"Pikachu?" The Pokémon asked. It didn't get what its trainer was saying. "Pikapi, pika chu."

Ash rolled his eyes. "No, Pikachu, I am not buying one of those things."

"Did you say something bad about my kimonos?" ask a voice. Ash immediately cringed he looked up. A man about twice his size was standing before him.

"No," mumbled Ash in a meek voice.

"Didn't your mother teach you to speak properly?" asked the man. "So you going to buy a kimono from me or not?"

"More like or else I get punched out," thought Ash.

"Err, err," muttered Ash. He knew better than to disagree with this sales clerk. The way this man looked he was more of a pro fighter than a person who sold clothes. Maybe that's why he was hired to scare people into buying kimono. "Err sure."

"Good," said the gigantic man immediately brightening up. Ash could immediately see a sudden change in his tone of voice. The man led Ash through the rolls and rolls of kimonos till Ash chose one he was satisfied with…

Misty sighed as she tried to remember more of that day and more of what he told her but she couldn't. Just thinking about him and his name left a cold spot in her heart. She loved him more than life itself. She knew that. She always had. She felt horrible leading and promising Rudy on like this. The foolish boy thought that she loved him when she really didn't. Keeping promises might had been an important rule in Thunderbolt, but so was not lying. She was lying to Rudy about coming to the dance with him. He must have really thought that she cared for him, but how could she? She had already given her heart up to another. She had promised him, and he had promised her that he would be back. Now she was breaking not only a promise to him but also a promise to herself. A promise, which was deeper than the rules of Thunderbolt, a promise that she knew was to the heart itself.

"Hey, Misty," said a kind voice. Misty looked up and sighed. This could be harder than she thought. There he was, Rudy, the man who was trying ever so hard to win her love.

"Uhmm?" asked Misty. She turned to look at the man.

"Here," said Rudy grinning. He handed Misty a glass with clear liquid within. Misty uneasily took it. It must be wine. What does this guy think he is?

"Thanks," muttered Misty taking the glass. She could be sure that she would pour the glass out later. "Uh Rudy…"

"Yeah beautiful."

Misty sighed. "Could we speak together outside… privately?" asked Misty.

"Outside?" asked Rudy. "Uh okay."

Misty grinned as she set the glass down on the table. Rudy drank the glass down before taking Misty's hand. The two walked out where the lights around Pallet were totally off. There was not a trance of light besides the warm glow within the building and in the garden itself. But still even though they were outside to Misty it didn't feel like she was outside. It never did.

She remembered what the outside was. The real outside, not an underground makeshift that humans made of the outside world. The outside world that she used to live in. The one where you could actually feel the warm or cold breeze of the night sky. Seat around a warm and cozy fireplace and tell ghost stories. Every time now she wished to go outside, but she couldn't. Going outside was risky. By leaving the heaven of Thunderbolt could give away a passage to Thunderbolt. Every time she looked up. She didn't see those stars he told her about. The sparkling stars that he said had once told her would guide her.

"Rudy… I don't know how to say this…" started Misty. Before she could speak, a single finger silenced her mouth.

"Don't… I know how you feel." Rudy grinned as he turned Misty to face him. There in the fields of Pallet their mouths met. Rudy pushed Misty against him as the two shared a kiss…

A/N: WAAAA!!! Please don't throw stuff at me. :Dodge a tomato: I know I'm going to get flamed now. I know that everyone voted that Rudy and Misty won't get together, but I just had to do that at the end. I thought… hey why not end it right there? It would surely leave a bang. Okay! First of all please don't flame me. I swear I didn't plan that, but hey please don't give up on me. I love twists, but I swear I will get out of this one. This story has barely started. I haven't even gotten to the halfway point. Just read the next chapter then if you don't like it, flame me then. I swear things will turn out… okay. How? I can't tell, or I'll give away the next chapter and the rest of the story. But like I said before Ash Ketchum always keeps his promises. :coughhintcough: Just four reviews, and you'll discover how. I'll start writing the next chapter as soon as I post this one up. I swear. The next chapter will get posted soon. I promise.

Okay for that talking part that I said at the beginning. Well after reading all my reviews and answering them I kind of feel sorry for leaving a strange cliffhanger as I did. But still I thought you guys deserved to read this chapter as I write the next chapter.